ANTHRAX’s Charlie Benante Has Surgery For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Wednesday, 7th August 2013
ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante is recovering from surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. The sticksman wrote the following via Twitter: “Surgeon fixed my hand, nothing broken, just carpal tunnel…behind my ANTHRAX drum kit soon, 9/13 in San Bernardino.”
ANTHRAX’s current touring lineup includes SHADOWS FALL guitarist Jon Donais, who has been touring with ANTHRAX since Rob Caggiano’s departure in January, and former TESTAMENT/SLAYER drummer Jon Dette, who is filling in for Benante. Dette previously filled in for Benante on ANTHRAX’s European tour last fall as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD and Australia’s Soundwave Festival in February/March.
Regarding how it feels to be playing with ANTHRAX, Dette said: “It’s amazing, man. The first day that I started playing drums — a lot of people may or may not know this — the first album I ever got from the day I got my drum set was ‘Fistful Of Metal’ [by ANTHRAX], and literally, the first song I ever tried playing on drums was ‘Metal Thrashing Mad’. Actually, I [was] hanging out with Charlie and I told him that this morning, and he was, like, ‘Really?’ And I’m, like, ‘Yeah, really.’ [laughs] ANTHRAX, METALLICA and SLAYER, they were such a foundation of my style growing up, and I’ve been privileged now to actually play for two of those bands. It’s a very natural thing for me to play, but at the same time, seeing the back of their heads on stage, and Joey [Belladonna] is looking at me and he’s singing, and I’m just, like, ‘This is great.’ I guess you can say that I play with a lot of passion when I’m with those bands, ’cause it’s just absolutely passion and just an amazing experience.”
